Kaieteur NEws

Guyana’s gold sector

As the nation continues to mourn the catastrophic July 18, 2026 capsizing of

on 39 years of experience

across

OutdatedlawsleftMVBarimaexposedtodisaster - Maritime Expert

the MV Barima, a comprehensive legal paper authored by maritime scholarRobertC.Millington titled MV Barima and the Maritime Statute Book of Guyana: A Fully Expanded Analysis of Statutory Deficiency in the Law

Governing Domestic Passenger Shipping reveals that the disaster was not merely an act of sea, but the

su

of structuralfailuresembedded inGuyana’smaritimelaws.

His core finding establishesthatthecountry’s statutory framework left domestic passenger vessels

like the MV Barima functionally unregulated regarding modern stability requirements, headcount mandates, and safety managementstandards.

Millington brings domain expertise to his statutory critique, drawing

ary, maritime, and logistics sectors.

of Millington’s statutory critique is what he terms “The 24-Metre Gap,”

instruments Under the Guyana Shipping (Small Commercial Ship Safety) Regulations (Reg. 5/2005), safety standards including stability criteria, passenger recording, muster and drill requirements, and safety management systems, apply strictly to vessels under 24 metresinlength.

Meanwhile, under the Guyana Shipping (Cargo Ship Survey) Regulations (Reg 6/2005), passenger s

y excluded. Because the MV Barima measured roughly 40.26metresinlength,itfell directly between both regulations Consequently,

the state-operated passenger v

statutory safety obligations under Guyanese regulations than either a small wooden vessel or a standard cargo ship.

Thepaperalsohighlights an institutional conflict of interest within the Guyana Shipping Act (Cap. 49:01). Under Section 3(3) of the

Act, for government-owned registered vessels, any statutory reference to the vessel’s owner is legally construed as a reference to theDirectoroftheMaritime Administration Department (MARAD).

This statutory deeming createsadirectconflationof roles, as the state entity tasked with enforcing maritime safety rules, receivingdefectreports,and issuing detention orders is legally defined as the very shipowner it is meant to regulate.

Further statutory deficiencies span across casualty inquiries, stability rules,passengerheadcounts, and penalty structures Neither statutory casualty regime could function

properly because the 1883 Act under Cap 49:07 excludesStatevessels,while Cap 49:01 Part XVIII makes inquiries purely discretionary with no statutorymandatetopublish findingsorsubmitreportsto the International Maritime Organization, forcing reliance on a generalpurpose Commission of Inquiry

Regarding stability, the s

exclusively on load line marksthatmeasuredraftand reservebuoyancyratherthan w

, metacentric height, or righting levers, meaning a vessel can be above its load line mark and still be criticallyunstable.

Additionally, unlike international standards under SOLAS Chapter III Regulation 27, Guyanese lawlacksaclearoperational statutory duty mandating pre-departure counts and shore-sidepassengerlogsfor vessels of this class, which led directly to chaotic estimates of total passengers.

Finally, a severe penalty inversion exists where submergingaloadlinemark carriesahigherstatutoryfine

under the Act than sending an unseaworthy vessel to sea, naturally forcing prosecutors away from negligiblestatutoryfinesand toward common-law criminalcharges.

Beyond the regulatory gaps, Chapter 13 of Millington’s study raises a critical time-sensitive warning for victims and families seeking legal recourse. Under Section 23 of the Transport and Harbours Act (Cap. 49:04), anycivillegalactionbrought against the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD)issubjecttoastrict six-month limitation window, which requires a formal written notice served on the Department at least onemonthpriortofiling.

With the casualty occurring on July 18, 2026, themandatorywrittennotice cut-off falls around December 18, 2026, and the statutory bar expires around January18,2027.Millington strongly urges the State to issueanimmediatestatutory suspension or public undertaking waiving this limitation period so that affected families waiting on the formal outcomes of the Commission of Inquiry are notprocedurallybarredfrom pursuinglegalremedies.

To prevent future tragedies on Guyana’s waterways, the analysis o

legislative and structural

reform.

First,theStatemustclose

y promulgatingcomprehensive safety regulations for domestic passenger vessels over24metresusingexisting statutory powers under Cap 49:01

Second, rigid statutory requirements must be enacted for shore-side headcount verification and passenger lists prior to departure.

Third, an independent Transport Safety Board should be established as a

completely separate from regulatory authorities, modeledafterinternational

Continuedonpage10

Australian firm unveils 75,000m drill programme for massive Reg. 7 gold project

Australian-listed Altair Minerals Limited has

unveiled the largest inaugural gold exploration campaigns.

Altairissettoembarkon a fully funded 75,000-metre drilling programme for its Greater Oko Gold Project

spanning 590 square kilometres contiguous mining lands in Region Seven(Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Greater Oko is twice the combined size of every active gold project in Guyana. The Greater Oko has positioned Altair as the “mostdominantexplorer”in

Guyana. The project area consists of four advanced targets: South Oko (Soko), North Peters (NP), Old Granny (OG) and Kmung (KM) Altair’s initial explorationworkisfocusing onSokoandNP

T h e 1 8 - m o n t h exploration strategy follows the company’s capital raise of approximately AU$38 million, which allows it to significantly scale up exploration activities across the Greater Oko land package The programme comprises 40,000 metres of diamonddrillingand35,000

metresofreversecirculation (RC) drilling across both established prospects and newregionaltargets.

The company said two

additionalRCdrillrigshave alreadybeensecuredandare ready for mobilisation. One will be deployed at South Oko while the other will

operate at North Peters alongside the existing diamonddrillrig.

Altair also announced plans to undertake a LiDAR

survey (an advanced remote sensing method that uses rapid laser pulses from drones,planes,orground

Continuedonpage8

Kaieteur News

PrintedandPublishedbyNationalMedia& PublishingCompanyLtd. 24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor:NIGELWILLIAMS

Tel:225-8465,225-8491. Fax:225-8473,226-8210

EDITORIAL

Dodging the media

In every democracy, there comes a defining moment when a leader must stand before the people, not behind a camera, not through a carefully edited video, and certainly notshieldedbyaidesorpoliticalsurrogates.TheMVBarima disaster, the worst maritime tragedy in Guyana's modern history,issuchamoment.

Yet, nearly two weeks after the catastrophe claimed 73 confirmed lives, with dozens still missing, President Irfaan Ali has not subjected himself to a single open press conference. Instead, the nation has received polished video statements, while the Prime Minister has carried the burden offacingthemedia.Eventheswearing-inoftheCommission of Inquiry was kept from the local press, with journalists reduced to watching a Facebook livestream after the event hadbegun.

Thisisnottransparency Itiscommunicationbycontrol.

The President insists that Guyana deserves "a full, fair and impartial account" of what happened aboard the MV Barima.Onthatpoint,heisabsolutelycorrect.Butthesearch fortruthdoesnotbeginonlywithaCommissionofInquiry It beginswithopennessfromthosewhogovern.

A Commission of Inquiry cannot answer why the President himself refuses to face legitimate questions from theindependentpress.Itcannotexplainwhyjournalistswere excluded from an event of immense national significance. Norcanitsubstituteforpoliticalaccountability

The Office of the President appears increasingly comfortablespeakingtothepublicwhileavoidingspeaking withthepublic.

Thatdistinctionmatters.

Democracy is not strengthened when information flows in only one direction. Livestreams are presentations, not conversations. Video statements cannot ask follow-up questions. They cannot challenge contradictions. They cannot press for clarity where answers are vague or incomplete Journalism exists precisely because governmentsshouldneverbelefttointerviewthemselves.

ThispatterndidnotbeginwiththeBarimatragedy Ithas become a defining characteristic of this administration's relationshipwithsectionsoftheindependentmedia.

Over the years, critics have been branded enemies, legitimate questions dismissed as political attacks, and independent media houses subjected to hostility that has become almost routine Government agencies have frequently issued lengthy rebuttals attacking newspapers instead of addressing the substance of their reporting. The tonehasoftenbeencombativeratherthanconstructive. Thatisunhealthyinanydemocracy

Theroleofthepressisnottocomfortgovernments.Itisto question them, especially when citizens are grieving and demandinganswers.

No President enjoys uncomfortable questions. But discomfort is part of democratic leadership. Leaders who welcome applause but resent scrutiny misunderstand the office they occupy History has repeatedly shown that governments do not lose credibility because journalists ask difficult questions. They lose credibility when they avoid answeringthem.Today,familiescontinuetoburylovedones. Others still wait for bodies that may never be recovered. Questionspersistoverthevessel'sseaworthiness,regulatory oversight, passenger manifests and official responsibility. Thesearenotpoliticalquestions.Theyaremattersofpublic interestinvolvingliveslostandpublicconfidenceshattered.

ThePresidentshouldnotwaitfortheCommission'sfinal reportbeforefacingthenationthroughanunrestrictedpress conference. Doing so would not compromise the inquiry It woulddemonstraterespectforthepeopleandconfidencein his own administration.Strong leaders do not hide behind livestreams.They stand before the microphones, face every question,andtrustthattruthcanwithstandscrutiny

ThegrievingfamiliesoftheBarimadeserveanswers.

TheGuyanesepeopledeserveaccountability And the independent media deserve access, not exclusion.

Ending the 75% cost recovery

...Examining the investment cost for the first four investment projects, Liza 1, Liza 2, Payara, and Yellowtail

DearEditor, One of the most importantquestionsintheoil industryis:Atwhatquantity ofbarrelsofoilsoldwillthe investment cost of any projectberepaid?Thereason for knowing the answer to this question is because the cost recovery formula of 75% of total revenue, which is applied to the total investment cost of any project under the 2016 PSA, can be terminated; and

y operating/cash cost would remainlegitimate.

The main implication of this result is that when the investment cost has been repaid in full, the absolute

significantlyincreaseineach project, and Guyana's benefits in absolute terms will be much larger than what is currently generated bythecompanythatoperates

government oversight

esponsibilities To overcome this troubling situation, one approach would be the application of ring-fencing on every project.

Therefore,thepurposeof this letter is to show how ring-fencing can be applied to the repayment accounting for the investment in Liza 1, Liza2,PayaraandYellowtail

byidentifyingthenumberof barrelsofoilsoldfrom2020 to2025;calculatingthetotal revenue generated; deriving the quantity of oil sold that pay-off the total investment; and thereafter, calculating the increase in profits that Guyana should receive after theinvestmentcostisrepaid infull.

Theseaccountingresults will be shown below It has been reported that the total originalcapitalcostofLiza1, Liza2,PayaraandYellowtail is US$28.5 Billion and the operating cost per barrel of o i l i s U S $ 1 0 0 0 (https://kiskadeewatch com/ opinion/letters/lack-of-ringfencing-cut-guyanas-2025profit oil-entitlement-byus4-9b/).

During the period 2020 to 2025, the total number of barrels of oil sold was 796.5 million barrels; but to cover the investment cost, only 566.5 million barrels of oil were required to be sold to repaythecapitalcostandthe operatingcost(TableA).

In this arrangement, the total revenue (TR) earned from the sale of 566 5 Million barrels of oil was US$45.6 Billion (Table 1), withthetotalcost(TC)ofthe oil sold being US$34 2 Billion (75% of revenue see Table 1), consisting of operating cost of US$5.7

Billion plus original capital costofUS$28.5Billion;and the total profit US$11 4 Billion (Profit = Total Revenue (US$ 45.6 B) –Total Cost (US$34.2 B)), yielding 50 percent profit of $US$5.7 Billion for Guyana or 12.5 % of Total Revenue ofUS$45.6Billion(Table1). Itshouldbenotedthatthe totalnumberofbarrelsofoil sold in 2025 was 260 3 millionbarrels,butonly30.2 million barrels of oil extracted and sold in 2025, plusthe536.3millionbarrels of oil extracted and sold between 2020 to 2024, yielding a total of 566.5 million barrels of oil were the required number of barrels of oil that were needed to pay-off the Investment of US$34 2 Billion(TableB).

Therefore,theremaining 230.1 million barrels of oil sold in 2025, which earned US$ 15.7 billion, were free of any investment cost; and only operating cost (US$2.3 billion)wasalegitimatecost (Table2).Pleaseobservethat the capital cost in Table 2 is zero.

As a result, the profit earnedfromthesaleof230.1 million barrels of oil was US$13.4 billion ( Profit = Total Revenue (US$15 7 billion –Total Cost (US$2.3 billion), with Guyana 50

percent profit share being US$6.7 Billion (Table 2).

Having presented the information on profits with and without the investment cost, the remaining sections ofthisletterwilladdressthe ring-fencing and no-ringfencing outcomes. The noring fencing case, which is based on the 2016 PSA, requires that 75 percent of thetotalrevenueearnedmust be captured as cost, with the remaining25percentsplitin half,yieldingforGuyanajust 12.5% of total revenue as profit share Since total revenue earned between 2020 and 2025 is US$61.3 Billion, therefore 75 percent cost recovery is US$46.0 billion and Guyana profit share of 12.5 % of total Revenue is US$7.7 billion (Table3).

In the ring-fencing case where capital cost has been repaid in full, and only operating cost is legitimate, this implies that the 75 per cent cost recovery mechanism is now null and void; and the only cost that matters is operating cost. Consequently, the total cost under ring-fencing declines from US$46.0 billion under no ring-fencing (Table 3) to US$36.5 billion under ringfencing(Table4).

Acknowledgingthattotal (Continuedonpage5)

Implement the relevant maritime laws and conventions to the sinking of ferry MV Barima

All Guyanese should join the MV Barima protests

DearEditor,

For the poor and unrepresented Guyanese and others it is in their best interest to join the current protests for accountability for the victims along with the unfortunate T&HD employees considering the MVBarimatragedy

Even if the current protestsdoincludeelements ofraceandpolitics,themost important factor is a war on the poor and unrepresented Guyanese.

Follow the very principle coming from the government to unite, show humanityanddon'tmakethe issue political Unite as fellow Guyanese showing solidarity for your fellow Guyanese, don't make this tragedy political by supporting whichever politicalpartyyouwant,and more importantly show humanityfortheunfortunate T&HD workers now being scapegoatedforthistragedy Showgratitudeforthese workers of theT&HD since

for decades these workers for low wages, spent many hours away from their familiestoprovidetransport for Guyanese countrywide. It is time to show solidarity with your fellow Guyanese particularly the underclass since it is the right thing to doplusmanyGuyanesewill be finding themselves in helpless situations when they will need their fellow Guyanese to stand up for them. The argument being putforwardhereisthatthere is another crisis for Guyanese brewing that is being dwarfed by other major issues in the current headlines.

Every week there are multiple flights arriving to Guyana from Cuba. Cubans being deported from the US are coming to Guyana not returning to Cuba They havedecidedtocallGuyana their new home, to date the government has not provided what arrangement is this Imagine Cuba's population is close to 11

The late Ian McDonald

DearEditor,

Inmyopinionaloverof poetry in Guyana was the lateIanMcDonald.

I have had significant interaction with him on one occasion involving an anthology of Guyanese poems in which my name was in the index of the publication but the content did not show any of my poems.

M r . M c D o n a l d responded to my concern encouragingmetovaluemy literaryeffort.Hewaslikea

father concerned about my literaryhealth.

I c o n s i d e r M r McDonald as a great gift to Guyana not only as an intense lover of excellent poetry, but as one who linked his knowledge and experiences to give sound andmeaningfuladvice.

An icon I think, enthused in life over the beautyofrichpoetry.

Iamsorryheisnolonger inbodywithus.

Regards, KrishnaNandPrasad

millionmeaning5%coming herewouldbe550,000more than the amount of people who vote in Guyana, Guyanese take note So, Guyana sent away the Cuban Doctors on Donald Trump's orders, yet silence from the US for this new influxofCubans.

The crippling sanctions andblockadeofCubabythe US have now caused an exodusofCubans,andtheir destinationisnowGuyana.I will address the PPP surrogates in the US that supports Trump when Guyana gets an unregulated unchecked migrant crisis. So, Brazilians coming overland via the south, Venezuelans coming by boat, and now Cubans and everybodyelsebyair,thisis a warning to the PPP supporters, these people are coming here with a grievance that the Guyana PPPGovernmentsidedwith theUStocauseproblemsin theircountries.

I have no issues with immigration or refugee claimants if it's legitimate andfollowawell-organized system. What we have in Guyana is an open border free for all system being defendedbythegovernment to provide labour shortage relief.

If these newcomers are heretoprovidelabour,what happens when there is no morework?

will they go back home as mainly Venezuela and Cubaisgettingunlivableby the day? what happens to Guyana when several hundreds of thousands of people have no means of survival?thesearequestions

Ending the 75% cost...

Frompage4

revenue is the same at US$61.3 billion and total costisnowUS$36.5billion, thisimpliesthattotalprofitis US$24.8 billion (Profit = US$61 3B - US$36 5B), with Guyana profit share being US$12.4 billion or 20.2percentoftotalrevenue as compared with only 12.5 percent under no ringfencing; and Guyana profit share is now larger by

US$4 7 billion when compared with the US$7.7 billionundernoring-fencing (which is 12.5% of the total revenue of US$61.3 billion from 2020 to 2025).

Undoubtedly, ring-fencing will make a significant difference for Guyana as soonastheinvestmentcostis repaid. However, if no ring-

fencing continues, and as newprojectscomeonstream without ring-fencing (for example, Uaru andWhiptail arenewprojects),itwillgive the understanding that output and profits will be increasing, and Guyana should be joyful; however, since the 75-cost recovery mechanism will still be operable, profits will be significantly understated Andasthesayinggoes:they ('thecompany)willcontinue totakeusforaride,'untilthe oilisdone;anditwillbetoo late to do anything at those stage 15 to 20 years from now. It is therefore evident that the Government of Guyana must up-grade their management and oversight responsibilities by including ring-fencing, real-time

need to be answered I recently spent some time in Parika in Region 3, and witnessed something very concerning, there are hundreds of homeless people speaking in different languages loitering all day seeking refuge in the business establishments because the weather is too hot to be outside and they have no work including children.

M a n y o f t h e s e businesses can't function as customers won't go there and subsequently have to closetheirdoorscompletely In the night the newcomers own the night with lewd behaviors of fights, drugs, alcohol and prostitution, forcing the locals to close theirprisonlikegatesandgo indoors at sundown. These newcomers are causing this beingonlyafewofthemfor now,so imaginewhenthere will be tens of thousands of them what will happen. I don't know if this is happening in the rest of the country in the name of t r a n s f o r m a t i o n , development and progress, maybe other readers can provide more information wheretheyreside.

The major two races of Guyana have been divisive forever like divisive populations everywhere where some confrontations sadly ended in tragedy, but the Afro's and Indo's in Guyana understood each othertocoexistasGuyanese even as governments discriminated against (Continuedonpage6)

188 years after Emancipation,

IDPADA-G

says African Guyanese still fighting for true freedom

DearEditor,

As we mark 188 years since Emancipation, IDPADA-G calls on the A f r i c a n G u y a n e s e community to ponder where wearetoday inrelationtoour status when our ancestors walkedthroughtheplantation gates in 1838 to chants of freedom. At that time, we couldnotgohometoAfrica-the colonizers had brutally stripped us of our links to the motherland – no memory of name, language, family ties. Wewereofthisnewland–we hadnootherhome.

In this new home, at the dawn of Emancipation, we had a vision of owning the land, building communities, and taking our rightful place asthebuildersofthisland.

We were confident in our power to create because we are descendants of a great people. We were the first humans to walk this earth –over300,000yearsbeforeany other people – and Africans developed the first civilizations. We were the buildersofthegreatpyramids and temples of Egypt and the toweringempiresofSonghai, Mali,Ghana,andmanymore. That ancestral knowledge inspired us. We purchased abandoned plantations in 1839 and began the work of nation-building, creating governancestructurestoform thefirstvillagesofthisland.

But just as Haitians who foughtandwontheirfreedom

have had their economy brutallycrushedbytheslaveholding societies of Europe and North America, the Britishdidallintheirpowerto crush the African spirit of entrepreneurship and our drive to lead the creation of thisasournewhome.

The anti-black playbook thatstrippedusofourculture, crushed our entrepreneurial spirit, which created and ingrained negative stereotypes of who we are continues effectively today Recent events have put a negative spotlight onAfrican Guyanese in a way reminiscent of the most revolting of the colonialpast. The message is clear – our students are failing, while othersarestridingtothetopof theclass;ourpublicservants, regardlessofthebrokentools given, are responsible for the nation's worst maritime tragedy

IDPADA-G calls on AfricanGuyanesetotakethis time to reflect on where we stand on this Emancipation Day. We must question whether we have truly achieved the Emancipation ourancestorsenvisioned. And we must unite to achieve true emancipation, reclaimourgloriouspast,and createabrighterfutureinthis country, whose foundation was built on our labour and talent.

Sincerely

IDPADA-G

auditing,andmonitoringthe breakeven quantity of oil sold that will pay-off the total investment and operating cost in each project.

It is also indisputably obvious that the current arrangements and earnings obtained from the oil extraction operation is way below what it should be for Guyana. And if no corrections are made,wealreadyknowwhat future generations will say aboutus.Theywillsay:Our ancestors were taken to the cleaners.Whiptail?Wake-up Guyana!

Sincerely, KenrickHunte JoePersaud

DarshKhusial

OnbehalfofOGGN

Iran says negotiations with Oman over Strait of Hormuz in final stages

(AL-JAZEERA) Iran's foreign minister says negotiations with Oman on the Strait of Hormuz are entering their “final stages”, as Tehran insists the vital waterway will never return toitspre-warstatus.

InapostonTelegramon Sunday, Abbas Araghchi said that in a report he presented to the cabinet, he described the negotiations between Tehran and Muscat as “on the way to being finalized.”

Foreign Ministry spokesman,EsmailBaghaei, said thatTehran and Muscat wereclosetoreachingadeal on a new maritime route through Hormuz, separate fromexistingcorridors.

“We are now going to reach an understanding on a route acceptable to both sides, neither the northern route nor the southern route but one that respects the sovereign rights of both sides and safeguards our national interests and security,”Baghaeisaidinan interview with state television.

M u s c a t d i d n o t

immediately comment on thematter

Both Iran's and Oman's territorial waters border the Strait of Hormuz, the key waterway through which about20percentofglobaloil consumption is normally shipped.

Details of the new route were not immediately clear, but Iran has effectively maintained control over the strait since the outbreak of war OnFebruary28,theUS and Israel launched strikes aimed at destroying Iran's missile programme, preventinganuclearweapon and cutting off support for alliedarmedgroups.

A June ceasefire collapsed within weeks in a dispute over shipping routes

through Hormuz and fightingreignitedinJuly Baghaei earlier said, “an understanding between Iran andOmanonanewroutehas nothing to do with whether the Strait of Hormuz is reopened or remains closed”. He blamed the US for the closure and accused Washington of breaching its commitments, according to

Iran'sFarsnewsoutlet.

“The strait was closed becauseoftheUnitedStates' breach of its commitments, itsnavalblockadeofIranand all the hostile measures that the United States has taken againsttheIslamicRepublic of Iran during this period,” hesaid.

Iranian President

Masoud Pezeshkian said on S u n d a y t h a t t h e m e m o r a n d u m o f understanding (MoU) with the US would become the “cornerstone” of Tehran's futureforeignrelations.

“We must strive to make the enemy abide by what it

signed. The security of our country, the region and our allies will be enhanced by this memorandum, ”

PezeshkiansaidonX. Hassam Ghashghavi, spokesman for the Iranian parliament's national security commission, said thatmediatorsweretryingto revive the June MoU, and were aware that Hormuz remained the central issue, Iranian news outlet SNN reported.

Ghashghavi said it was possible that an Iranian delegation would travel to Muscat again as part of ongoing diplomacy “This is

[File: West Asia News Agency/Reuters]

the nature of diplomacy and this exchange of views continuesregularly,”hesaid.

Two-sidedmessaging

The comments come after US President Donald Trump said early on Sunday that the US and Israel had agreedtohaltnewattackson Iran, provided a deal to end the months-long conflict is reached“rapidly”.

Trump posted on Truth Social that the US was “locked and loaded and ready to go against the Islamic Republic of Iran”, butTehranandotherMiddle Eastern countries asked him toholdoffonnewattacks.

“Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidlymakeaDEAL.”

Trump said the deal “would include the Immediate, Complete, and Total OPENING OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT, and an endtoIran'snuclearthreat”.

“The Country of Israel joinsmeinthiscommitment. Gettowork,everybody,and getitDONE,”hewrote.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, (MBS) spoke to Trump by phone on Saturday, urging him to “prioritise dialogue” and “reduce escalation”, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

US news website Axios reportedthatMBSexpressed concern over Trump's plans forlarge,newattacksagainst Iran and reportedly urged himtorefrain.

“We know that, in a larger context, Iran is habituated to dancing to the same old tune, as it is receiving this oscillating rhetoric from the US president about the possibility of another round of confrontation on the one hand, [while also hearing] statements about these talks going well and that a potential deal is within reach,” said Al Jazeera's TohidAsadi, reporting from Tehran.

All Guyanese should...

Frompage5

particularraces.Thesenewcomersspeakindifferenttongues havingnoalliancetoGuyaneseAfro'sandIndo'ssowhenthey get into large numbers and cause confrontations beingAfro and Indo will mean nothing to them just like the disdain shown to Guyanese by the foreign exploiters currently The political elites have been building their nest eggs overseas preparing to leave when the mess they have crested starts to stinkleavingyouthepoorandunrepresentedtosurviveinthe stench.

Those critical of the government gets strategically isolated, targeted and silenced so there is no united opposition in numbers to challenge this oppression coming from the local elitesandtheirforeignhandlers,withGuyanesesoontoface anotherissuewiththeopenbordernewcomers.So,Guyanese thereistheMVBarimaprotestongoing,joinitespeciallythe poor and unrepresented, and even the wishful thinking ones who think they are safe since they really are not soon to be. With so many reasons to join this protest justified the main oneisthatanyGuyaneseotherthantheelites'turnisboundto comeliketheTHDemployees,andtheywillneedtheirfellow Guyanesetostandwiththem.

Sincerely, ConcernedGuyanese.

Brazil’sLulalaunches reelectionbidasconcerns riseoverforeigninterference

(AP)—Whatisverylikelytobethelast reelection bid of Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was confirmed on SundaybyhisWorkers’Partyasthe80-yearold leader faces increasing pressure from foreignleadersaheadofOctober’selections. Itwillbehisseventhraceforthetopjob.

Lula’s rival, Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, has enjoyedopensupportfrommembersofU.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, Argentina’sPresidentJavierMileiandIsraeli PrimeMinisterBenjaminNetanyahu.

Brazil’s president said in his party convention speech he wants to boost his country’s defense industry, protect its rare minerals, and claimed “no Chinese, no American, no French will touch” these resources without respecting the South Americannation’ssovereignty

“Wewillhavetobemuchmoredaringto change a lot of things in this country,” Lula said.

LULAISCOUNTINGONSOME LEVELOFINTERFERENCE

The Trump administration has also imposed new tariffs on Brazilian exports and changed the designation of two local criminal groups to terrorist groups, which legalanalystssaycouldhurtcompaniesand open a path for other kinds of intervention BothmovestookplaceafterSen Bolsonaro visitedtheWhiteHouseandtheDepartment ofState

Argentina’s Milei came to Sao Paulo on July25tospeakatBolsonaro’sLiberalParty convention and sparked a diplomatic crisis whenheinsultedLulaandtheSupremeCourt

justice who oversaw the elder Bolsonaro’s trialandconvictionovertheattemptedcoup.

Netanyahurecordedavideoinsupportof thepresident’sadversary

Lula has said he is defending Brazil’s nationalsovereignty Herecentlyheldalong call with China’s President Xi Jinping, the leader of one of Brazil’s most important tradingpartners.Hissupporterssayhecould lead South American trade bloc Mercosur into striking deals with partners worldwide. ThoughBrazilisbyfarthebiggesteconomy in the group, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguayarealsomembers.

Like his father, Sen. Bolsonaro has recentlytriedtosowunfoundeddoubtsabout Brazil’s voting system. Those statements have raised concerns at Brazil’s foreign ministry, which in July denied visas to two U.S.DepartmentofStateofficialsreportedly duetofearstheysoughttodothesame.

TheU.S.DepartmentofStatedeniedthat claiminastatement.

Australian firm unveils 75,000m...

Frompage8 toolstomeasuredistancesandbuildexact3D models of the earth) covering more than 400 squarekilometresbeginninginearlyAugust

According to the company, the survey is expected to produce the largest and most comprehensive LiDAR dataset collected in Guyana,allowinggeologiststomapstructures, lithologies, alluvial fields, access routes and geomorphological features while identifying newdrilltargets

Altair Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Faheem Ahmed, said the expanded programme is aimed at unlocking multiple majordiscoveriesacrossthedistrict

“I’m pleased to unveil our updated and upscaled exploration plans across Greater Oko Our updated exploration plan was designed with the objective of uncovering multiple world class discoveries across the unparalleledGreaterOkolandpackage,which isattheforefrontofourlong-termstrategy”

He explained that the company’s immediatefocuswillcentreonSouthOkoand North Peters Ahmed said the extended rainy season allowed the company to strengthen geological interpretations, improve target selectionandexpanditstechnicalteambefore commencingdrilling

Headdedthatthecompanyisfullyfunded to undertake exploration across five districts “We are fully funded to execute a substantial drill and exploration campaign across 5 districts at Greater Oko: SOKO, NP, Kmung, Mara-Mara,EastPuruni.”

AspreviouslyreportedbyKaieteurNews, the Australian explorer entered into an agreement with Guyanese company AdamantiumExplorationInc.thatallowsitto expand its landholdings in the Oko district from approximately 590 square kilometres to

asmuchas3,500squarekilometres

Lastyear, thecompany acquired theright toearn-inupto70%interestintheGreaterOko Project After nine months of negotiations, Altairwasabletoenterintoabindingheadsof agreementinAugust2025withAdamantium, a company that is owned by the Alphonso family

Notably,Altairisthethirdexplorertoenter theOkocorridor,followingCanadianmining firms G Mining Ventures (GMIN) and G2 Goldfields South Oko is positioned 15 km southofOkoWestprojectwhichisownedby GMIN

Altair had outlined that GMIN and G2’s exploration success has already validated the untapped potential, establishing multiple tier-1 discoveries made from grassroot exploration campaigns It added that GMIN’s and G2’s results achieved within a small fraction of the project area validate the potential for multimillion-ouncediscoveries

Altair has previously described Greater Oko as having the potential to become its “companymaker”andoneofthelargestgold exploration projects in both Guyana and the widerGuianaShield

ThispublicationreportedthatAltaironits website,paintedGuyanaasthe“lasttrulypromining” and politically stable country within the Guiana Shield It also highlighted that Guyanaminingareashostgeologysimilarthat ofWestAfricancountries

Altair explained that Guyana’s mining lands consists of the same Birimian Greenstone Belt that has underpinned worldclass gold discoveries across West Africa, includinginGhana,IvoryCoast,andBurkina Faso. Altair noted however, that unlike extensive exploration in the African nations, Guyanaremainssignificantlyunderexplored

Stretchingprinciplesbeyondrecognition

The present controversy over possible alleged conflicts of interest involving two members of the Commission of Inquiry intotheM.V Barimatragedy illustrates how easily an important principle can be s t r e t c h e d b e y o n d recognition.

Independence and i m p a r t i a l i t y a r e indispensable to a credible inquiry But the mere existence of a professional, commercial or institutional connection does not, by itself, establish a conflict of interest.

Thefirstthingthatneeds to be understood is that a Commission of Inquiry is notacourtconductingatrial. Ajudgeinacriminalorcivil trialoccupiesaverydifferent p o s i t i o n f r o m a commissioner conducting a fact-findinginquiry

Ajudge must determine the legal rights and liabilities of parties before the court The judge must decide whether the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt or, in a civil matter, whether a claimant has established his case on the applicable standard The judge’s decision is binding and has direct legal consequencesfortheparties.

Thatiswhythelawtakes judicial conflicts of interest extremelyseriously Ajudge cannot have a direct

personal interest in the outcome. Nor should there be circumstances creating a reasonable apprehension that the judge might favour one party over another The judicial process depends upon the decision-maker being, and being seen to be, detached from the litigants andthecontroversy

A Commission of Inquiry occupies a different terrain. The M.V Barima Commission has been established to unearth the facts surrounding the disaster, examine what happened before and after the vessel sank, scrutinize the response, consider compliance with maritime and safety requirements, identifypossiblefailuresand makerecommendations. Thatisafact-findingand investigative function, not theadjudicationofalawsuit between opposing parties. The commissioners are not being asked to decide whether Minister A wins against Citizen B. They are not determining the guilt or innocence of a defendant in the criminal proceedings arisingfromthetragedy The Commission is instead expected to gather evidence from multiple sources, hear witnesses, examine documents, inspect technical material and reach con clusions about what occ urred. Its conclusions

DEM BOYS SEH

may subsequently inform governmental action, administrative decisions, regulatory reform or even other proceedings. But that does not transform the Commissionintoacourt.

Thisbringsustothefirst alleg

commissioner’slawfirmhas had a relationship with the law firm of a local Minister Iftheargumentissimplythat Law Firm A has had professional dealings or an association with Law Firm B, and Law Firm B represents or is associated with Minister X, that is a remarkably long road to an actualconflictofinterest.

Agenuineconflictwould require something much moresubstantial.Otherwise, we could quickly arrive at the absurd proposition that no lawyer who has ever worked with, against, alongside or in the professionalorbitofanother lawyer could participate in aninquiryinvolvingthenew employersofthelawyer

That is not how professional independence works. Lawyers operate in overlapping professional circles Firms act for thousands of clients Counsel appear against one another in one case and together in another Professional acquaintance is not allegiance; and a firm’s relationship with another

Bookshelf Politics

DemboyssehGuyanagotanewnational institution It’s called Facebook Live University Every day, somebody does go live to educate the nation on politics, governance, economics, corruption, development, democracy and everything elseunderthesun.

But dem boys notice something else. Plenty of these Facebook professors does position demself carefully in front of a bookshelf. And not just any bookshelf. A bookshelf packed tight with books—big books, serious books, books with titles that soundliketheycouldmakeamandevelopa headachejustbylookingatdem.

Demboyswatchingandwonderingwho does arrange the set? Because de bookshelf doeslooklikeitgotmorequalificationsthan depersonsittinginfrontofit.

Now dem boys not saying the person never read none of dem books. God forbid. But dem boys would like to know: How many of dem books actually pass through demmaneye?

Because some of dem books looking brand new Spine straight. No crease. No fingerprint. No dog-ear Not even dust disturbance.

Demboysrememberonefellawhoused to work in a government office. He decide thatheneededtolookimportant,soheputup shelves all over de place and fill dem with

firm does not automatically becomethepersonalinterest of every lawyer connected witheitherfirm.

We are told that another commissionermayalsohave an interest in Guyana’s marine sector and that, because the Maritime A d m i n i s t r a t i o n Department MARAD is likely to come under scrutiny, this constitutes a conflict.

But if involvement in Guyana’s maritime sector were itself disqualifying, thentheverypeopleGuyana most needs on a maritime disaster inquiry would be excluded from it The Commissionincludespeople selectedpreciselybecauseof their expertise in maritime operations, marine engineering, maritime law and maritime safety Its membershipincludesanaval architect and marine engineer, a senior maritime surveyor and compliance auditor, a former senior military officer with maritime experience and a specialist in admiralty and maritimelaw

Thatisnotadefectinthe Commission.Itisthereason for having such a

Commission.

Indeed,thereisacurious contradiction in demanding an inquiry that is both technically competent and completelyuntouchedbythe local maritime industry A person who knows nothing aboutthelocalsectormaybe impeccablyunconnectedbut may also be spectacularly unqualified to understand theevidence.

Ifacommissionerownsa company whose regulatory status depends upon the outcome of findings concerning MARAD that is plainly something requiring disclosure not necessarily disqualification But a general professional or business connection to the marine sector is not equivalent to a vested interestintheoutcomeofthe COI.

trophies.

Problem was, he never win one of dem trophies. Dem trophies never represent achievement. Dem was strictly decoration. Demboyscallthatornamentalexcellence. AndthatishowsomeoftheseFacebook Livebroadcastslooking.

Mansittinginfrontof300books,talking like he personally authored 250 and reviewedtheother50.

“Good afternoon, Guyana.Today I will bediscussingconstitutionalreform.”Behind him: The Constitution of the United States, The Federalist Papers, International Law, Comparative Constitutionalism, Political Philosophy,DemocracyandDevelopment.

Demboyssay,“Wellboy,weready!”

Thenfiveminuteslater,themanquoting somethingheseeonFacebookyesterday.

Butdemboyshaveasolution.

Before anybody allowed to go live in frontofabookshelf,denationshouldaskfor a book audit. Pick any five books from behind you. Tell us the title. Tell us the author Telluswhatpage137says.

If you pass, proceed with your national lecture. If you fail, dem boys recommend plainwall.

Because sometimes a blank wall does have more intellectual credibility than a bookshelffullahbooknobodyevertouch. Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

The commissioners do not have to be people who have never encountered a minister, never worked with a lawyer, never dealt with a maritime institution and never had professional or economic interests in Guyana. They have to be people capable of putting thoserelationshipsasideand followingtheevidence.

That is the standard by which this Commission shouldultimatelybejudged. Not by who once knew whom. Not by whose law firm has a relationship with another local law firm. Or who may or may not have a business interest in the marinesector

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)

Thatispreciselywhythe Commission’s credibility should be tested against evidence of actual or reasonably apprehended partiality, not by constructing chains of association There is a danger when legitimate scrutiny becomes conflictof-interest inflation, where acquaintance becomes association, association becomes interest, interest becomes conflict, and conflict becomes presumed bias.

13 Canadian firms now have full grip on Guyana’s gold sector

...another controls country’s only uranium project

ThenumberofCanadian companies with interests in Guyana’s gold sector has climbedto13,withthelatest entrant, XAU Resources Inc , set to acquire the Quartzstone Gold Project in Region Seven through a businesscombination.

The transaction, announced earlier this year, willseeToronto-listedXAU

Resources acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of QS Holdings Inc., the Barbados-based parent company of Qstone Inc., whichownstheQuartzstone GoldProject.

XAUResourcesmoveto acquire QS Holdings Inc. came weeks after fellow Canadian mining company Fortuna Mining Corp

entered into a more than US$5 million agreement with QS local subsidiary Qstone In

r the Quartzstone project which c

contiguousmininglands.

The addition, XAU and Fortuna further adds to Canada’s dominance among foreign mining firms

operatinginGuyana,joining major players such as G Mining Ventures (GMIN), ArisMining,G2Goldfields, Omai Gold Mines, Mako Mining, Greenheart Gold, TajiriResources,Lighthouse G o l d , G o l d P o r t Corporation, Golden Shield Resources and Lexston Mining.

Another new addition is Lexston Mining, which has already moved to acquire mineral claims covering approximately 64.75 square kilometres (km²) in the northwestminingdistrict,in a deal valued at US$1.1 million.

Thecompanyenteredthe agreement just weeks after incorporating a wholly owned local subsidiary, Lexston Guyana Inc., after an evaluation identified opportunities in Guyana’s gold-richdistricts.

Lexston Guyana entered theLOIwithJosephJardine, the seller to acquire a 100% undivided interest in 15 strategic mineral claims in RegionOne,MiningDistrict Five,NorthwestGuyana.

The Canadian firms are currently advancing gold projects across Guyana’s miningdistricts,collectively controlling millions of ounces of gold at various stagesofdevelopment-with some nearing gold production.

Most of these projects arelocatedinRegionSeven, the Cuyuni-Mazaruni Mining District, a region recognisedforitssignificant goldpotential.Forfiveofthe companies, the Proven and Probable Reserves and indicated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) amount to 15.7 million ounces of gold. The remaining companies are still in the exploration stage and have not reached

the point of announcing resourceestimates.

GMiningVenturesCorp. (GMIN) and G2 Goldfields Inc. recently finalised the US$2.2 billion acquisition that was first announced in April, to create a tier-1 gold mining project in one of Guyana’s hottest mining districts.

The deal allows the companiestoconsolidatethe twoadjacentgoldproperties, G2’s Oko-Ghanie project withGMIN’sfullypermitted

Frompage2 gold standards like the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Fourth, Section 3(3) must be repealed to legallyseparateMARADfromtheownershipofState-run vessels and restore regulatory independence. Finally, Guyana should enact accession to theAthens Convention Protocols to modernize passenger rights by establishing strict liability, compulsory insurance mandates, and direct actionmechanismsformaritimepassengers. AretiredUnitedStatesNavyOfficer,Millingtonholdsa Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation from the State University of New York Maritime College at Fort Schuyler,andpreviouslyservedasaLicensedUnitedStates Coast Guard Merchant Marine Deck Officer (Unlimited Tonnage)andFirstClassShipPilot(UnlimitedTonnage).

andfullyfinancedOkoWest project in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) Consolidating the projects will bring the Combined Measured & Indicated Mineral Resources of 7.0 million ounces and Inferred Mineral Resources of 2.3 millionounces.

Thedealwillalsoexpand GMIN’sfootprintinGuyana by 293 square kilometers (km²), creating a combined contiguous land package of over362km².

M e a n w h i l e , t h e proposedKurupunguranium project in Guyana is owned by Canada-based U92 EnergyCorp.TheKurupung Uranium Project spans approximately 92.2 square kilometres in Region Seven and carries a historical resource estimate of 20.6 million pounds of uranium. U92 completed its acquisition of LIA Industries, a Singaporean firm,earlierthisyear,giving the Canadian company control of what is currently Guyana’s only known uraniumproject.

‘MV Barima salvage too urgent for lengthy tender process’

- Mahipaul urges Govt. to invoke emergency procurement powers

...SAYS

DECISION TO INVITE PUBLIC BIDS

IS A “CRUEL DELAY” THAT LEAVES CRITICAL EVIDENCE

ROTTING UNDERWATER

Opposition Member of Parliament Ganesh

Mahipaul has criticised the government’sdecisiontoput the salvage of the sunken MV Barima out to public

tender, calling the administrative move a “cruel, insensitive, and entirelyunacceptabledelay” that risks destroying vital forensic evidence and prolonging the anguish of grievingfamilies.

Mahipaul’scalltoaction follows an advertisement published by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) inviting Expressions of Interest (EOI) from marine salvage contractors, with a submission deadline set for Friday,August14,2026.

“Any reasonable person understands what follows after that deadline: evaluation of submissions, shortlisting,contractawards, mobilisation,andissuanceof a commencement order,” Mahipaul stated in a press release. “This means actual salvage operations are unlikely to begin until late August or even early September That timeline is simplyunacceptable.”

Wa r n i n g o f t h e destructive nature of marine environments, Mahipaul emphasised that every day

the vessel remains submerged threatens the integrity of the ongoing investigation into Guyana’s worst maritime disaster, which claimed more than onehundredlives.

Saltwater rapidly corrodes mechanical systems,degradeselectronic equipment, and alters structural evidence essential for forensic experts, law enforcement, and the Commission of Inquiry To avoidthis,Mahipaulpointed out that Guyana’s procurement laws explicitly provide for emergency solesourcing under exceptional public interest conditions. He highlighted that the administration has repeatedly used solesourcing and emergency procurement for less critical projects, citing th

acquisition of the MV Hercules, yet hesitates duringanationaltragedy

Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, also called for the immediate resignation of Public Works Minister Juan Edghill Mohamed revealed that he offered to facilitate the immediate salvage of the vessel through a reputable international firm at zero costtotaxpayers,anofferhe claims the government bypassed in favor of a weeks-long tendering process.

Echoing the call for urgent action, prominent commentator Attorney Ralph Ramkarran, SC, writing in his Conversation Tree column, framed the recovery not as an administrative issue, but as an inescapable moral duty owedtothevictimsandtheir families R

underwater technology, including R

m

ely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and advanced sonar, makes safe recovery entirely feasible, asserting that financial or engineering concernsmustnotsupersede human dignity and national closure.

“Thevesselismorethan twisted steel resting beneath the sea; it is the final resting place of fathers, mothers, sons,daughters,friends,and neighbours,” Ramkarran wrote. “Seeking to recover the bodies would affirm to the relatives and the nation the value and dignity of humanlife.”

With public outcry mounting, Mahipaul urged the administration to immediately abandon the public tender process and utilise statutory emergency powers to begin salvage operations without further delay

“The people of Guyana deserve answers The grieving families deserve closure.Thevictimsdeserve dignity,” Mahipaul stated. “History will judge not only the tragedy itself, but also how this government respondedinitsaftermath.”

Javed Shadick confirmed secretary to MV Barima COI

…also served in Mahdia fire, 2020 elections inquiries

Attorney Javed Shadick has been appointed Secretary to the presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the fatal capsizingoftheMVBarima.

Kaieteur News confirmed the appointmentwithShadickonSundayafterhe responded “yes” when asked if he had been appointedSecretarytotheCoI.

Shadick, who previously served as Secretarytoboththe2023Mahdiadormitory fire inquiry and the 2022 Commission of

Inquiry into the March 2020 General and Regional Elections, said the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the investigation are expected to be published in the official gazette. However, up to press time, no such documenthadbeenuploaded.

Inhisadministrativerole,KaieteurNews understands that Shadick will oversee the commission’s operations, coordinate witnesses, and manage the gathering of evidence for the independent inquiry into

whatisconsideredGuyana’sworstmaritime disaster.

His appointment comes after Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman administered the oath of office to the members of the commission, officially launching the investigation established by President Dr MohamedIrfaanAliunderSection2(1)ofthe CommissionsofInquiryAct,Chapter19:03.

The panel is chaired by Belizean jurist Justice Godfrey Phillip Smith, CARICOM High-Level Representative for Law and CriminalJusticeandanAdHocJusticeofthe Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal, who participated virtually in Thursday’s swearing-inceremony

Serving alongside Chairman Smith and Secretary Shadick are four international experts:Dr AndrzejJasionowskiofPoland,a naval architect and marine engineer with extensive experience investigating major maritime disasters; Captain Hamada Fouda of Jamaica, a Senior Maritime Surveyor and Compliance Auditor with the Maritime Authority of Jamaica; Nyree DawnAlfonso of Trinidad and Tobago, an attorney specialisinginAdmiraltyandMaritimeLaw; and RearAdmiral (Ret’d) Hayden Pritchard of Trinidad and Tobago, a maritime professional with decades of military and maritimesecurityexperience.

The government-operated vessel, owned by the Transport and Harbours Department, capsized and sank on the night of July 18, 2026. Of the estimated 179 passengers and crewaboard,72bodieshavebeenrecovered, 30 people remain missing, and 76 survivors

Attorney Javed Shadick, Secretary to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the MV Barima disaster.

wererescued.

Inbriefremarksatstatehouse,President Ali said the commission has been given a broad mandate to determine the root causes andcontributingfactorsofthesinking,assess compliance with maritime laws and operational standards, and review the execution of the search-and-rescue operation.

“The families who have suffered unimaginable loss await these answers. Futuregenerationsdeservetheassurancethat every lesson that can be learned from this tragedywillindeedbelearned,”PresidentAli said.

IMFurgesGuyana tostrengthenoiland gasauditcapacity

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is urging Guyana to strengthen its oil and gas audit systems, noting that the country’s rapidly expanding petroleum sector increases the need for stronger financial oversight andaccountability

The advice was noted in the IMF’s staff concluding statementofthe2026Article IV Mission IMF staff team, led by Ms Lusine Lusinyan, helddiscussionsvirtuallyand in Georgetown during July 20–31,2026

The team met with Finance Minister, Dr Ashni

Singh, Central Bank GovernorDr GobindGanga, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Teixeira, Attorney General andMinisterofLegalAffairs

Mr Mohabir Anil Nandlall SC, and other senior officials, representatives from the private sector, banks, labor unions, and otherstakeholders.

In its concluding statement on the country’s governance, the IMF team noted ongoing efforts to furtherenhancepublicsector transparency and service delivery, supported by digitalisation Theteamnoted government’s move to advance digital solutions across key public services, including interoperability of management information systems

The IMF noted that Guyana has continued to conduct timely audits of available financial accounts while taking steps to strengthen internal audit

practices It also acknowledged the government’s efforts to resolve outstanding cost-oil audits, including through arbitration, but stressed that bringing those audits to a timely conclusion remains important given their fiscal a n d g o v e r n a n c e implications.

Chinesebusinessesmakeadditional donationtoMVBarimareliefefforts

The Association of Chinese Enterprises in Guyana (ACEG) has madeanadditionaldonationtotheCivil DefenceCommission(CDC)tosupport the ongoing response and relief efforts following the MV Barima maritime tragedy

The donation, funded collectively by ACEG’s member companies, was presented by the association’s General Secretary,JasonWang,toCDCDirector GeneralColonelNazrulHussainduring a simple handing-over ceremony

timeliness of financial accountsofpublicenterprises and agencies also remains a priority The authorities are encouraged to continue strengtheningauditcapacity, especially in oil and gas sector,”theteamsaid.

Further, it noted that as public expenditure expands rapidly, ongoing efforts to further strengthen public procurement practices and ensureconsistentcompliance with the procurement

framework will help safeguard spending quality, supported by the new centraliseddigitalplatform.

Further, the team welcomes governments strong commitment to strengtheningAML/CFTand anti-corruptionframeworks

It outlined government’s e ff o r t p u r s u i n g a comprehensive approach to AML/CFT,includingstepsto address vulnerabilities identified in Guyana’s 2024 MutualEvaluationReportby the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force and preparing new AML legislation along with modernising the relevant legislativeframeworks.

The team commended government’s efforts to strengthen oversight and transparency of the gold mining sector, with the planned risk assessment of extractiveindustriesexpected to contribute to identifying remaining gaps and informingfurtherreforms.

While acknowledging that some beneficial ownership information is already publicly accessible, the IMF team said making thatinformationeasierforthe public to access, while strengthening the monitoring andenforcementofreporting requirements, would further improvetransparency

Chinese Embassy Counsellor Li was alsopresent.

Among the companies contributing to the initiative were Hong Da Lian Shao Guyana Construction Inc , PowerChina International Group Ltd., Xinhai International (South America) Inc., Ping An Inc., CNQC Guyana, LongReach Investments & Construction Inc., China Auto Sales, One Tree International Inc., Guyana Green Farm Inc., and Bosai Minerals Guyana.

ACEG said the additional contribution reflects the organisation’s continuedcommitmenttostandingwith the people of Guyana during times of tragedy and supporting the country’s emergencyresponseefforts.

The association also extended its condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the MV Barima disaster and expressed appreciation to emergencyresponders,recoveryteams, government agencies and all others involvedintheongoingoperations.

“Given their fiscal and governance implications, resolving these audits in a timely manner remains import

The fund also called for the continued strengthening of the integrity commission, saying stricter compliance withandenforcementofasset declaration requirements would reinforce Guyana’s broader anti-corruption framework

g

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FourCaribbeancountriesaffected asUS$20,000VisaBond programmemadepermanent

NOTICE

(Jamaica Observer) A visabondprogrammerequiring nationals from specific countries to pay up to US$20,000 before being granted a United States (US) Visa will become permanent onAugust3afterwhattheUS government says is a successful pilot.Four Caribbean countries, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada and Antigua and Barbuda are included in the list of50countries.TheAntiguaand Barbuda Government has already announced it is lobbying heavily for a rollback of the requirements for its citizens.The programme was initially launchedin2025inaneffortto prevent overstaying.

TheUSStateDepartment inadraftnoticeonFriday,revealed that the decision to maketherulepermanentwas taken after the programme “provided sufficient data to suggest that a visa bond programmeisaneffectivetool for enforcing compliance

amongbondedvisaholders,”

USmediahasreported.

The bond, which is returnedtotravellersoncethey exit the country on time, can be between US$10,000 to US$20,000 at the discretion of consular officers.The full listofaffectedcountriesisas follows:

Algeria

Angola

Antigua and Barbuda

Bangladesh

Benin

Bhutan

Botswana

Burundi

CaboVerde

Cambodia

CentralAfricanRepublic

Côted'Ivoire

Cuba

Djibouti

Dominica

Ethiopia

Fiji

Gabon

TheGambia

Georgia

Grenada

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

KyrgyzRepublic

Lesotho

Malawi

Mauritania

Mauritius

LEGALNOTICE

Mongolia

Mozambique

Namibia

Nepal

Nicaragua

Nigeria

PapuaNewGuinea

SãoToméandPríncipe

Senegal

Seychelles

Tajikistan

Tanzania

Togo

Tonga

Tunisia

Turkmenistan

Tuvalu

Uganda

Vanuatu

Venezuela

Zambia

Zimbabwe

T&T,Israeleyecyberpartnership

(Trinidad Express)

Trinidad and Tobago and Israel have started discussions about cybersecurity and smart cities, among other possible projects.

T&T last week received its first visit by a head of Israel's International DevelopmentCooperationAgency, duringwhichhigh-leveltalks with Government officials centred on partnerships to develop cyber-security, smart cities, modern agriculture and healthcare.

According to director generalofMASHAV,AmbassadorEynatShlein,T&Twas identified as a key partner in regional development and both countries have renewed a commitment to further expand on long-standing bilateralrelations.

Followingspeculationon what was discussed by Government officials and the Israeli diplomatic team last Tuesday and Wednesday, Shlein emphasised that the agenda being pursued by MASHAV was primarily driven by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs),towhichT&T is a signatory

In a telephone interview last Tuesday, Shlein said meetingswereheldwithGovernment officials, including ministers,inareasofnational security, planning and development, technology, public health care, foreign affairs, infrastructure, education and agriculture.Shlein said discussions focused on local and regional security, food security and climate resilience,especiallyforSmallIsland Developing States (SIDS).Shlein said Israel has

long been regarded as a “start-up” state and maintains this level of innovation today.She said it was hoped the high-level meetings would lead to partnerships that encourage the developmentofgovernmentplatforms that support innovation.

MASHAVwillbereaching outtoT&Tafterthemeetings toseewhetherthereispotential for partnerships.

TheAmbassador said the MASHAV mandate includes formulating frameworks that accommodate such partnerships.Shlein pointed out MASHAV's emphasis on capacity building, through which over 350,000 global graduates (including some fromT&T)haveparticipated in programmes in various fields.Noting that her visit marked the first to T&T by a headofMASHAV,Shleinsaid the purpose of this week's visit was to understand the Government'scurrentprimary concerns and key development goals.

She stressed: “This is not aid,butpartnership”,andsaid both countries could learn fromeachother

“We're always interested in hearing from the Governmentwhattheirprioritiesare, and then we offer various partnerships in this regard,” Shleinstated.Herteam'smissioninT&Tistopromotesustainabledevelopment,including through the strengthening of vulnerable groups.

Shlein said this included thedevelopmentofwomenas part of the foundation of resilientcommunities.

She said the MASHAV teamtriedtospeaktoasmany state agencies as possible to

better understand the population's needs.

Food,watersecurity

Shlein said there were many areas in which T&T couldfurtherpartnerwithIsrael which could benefit people here.Shlein said the globalcommunity,including the more vulnerable Caribbean and LatinAmerican region, would have learned from the impact on food security by supply chain interruptionsduringtheCovid-19 pandemic.Various geopolitical conflicts have also impacted global supply chains, shesaid.TheMASHAVdirector general said Israel, which is a member of the UN, has a lot to offer in sustainable development. She said it was critical that the region take sustained action towards water security, including domestic water harvesting and the recycling of wastewater intoagriculture.

Buildingclimateresilience requiredactionatbothacommunity and governmental level, she said. Shlein said there has been an impact on food production by weather patterns affected by climate change, including the devastation of food crops during floods.

She noted that Israel has excelledformanydecadesin the area of food security, and promised: “We're here to share the things that we know.”Shesaidthisincluded research and development in grainandlivestock,aswellas intensive food cropping.

Israel is “partnering with our friends and with the differentcountriesweworkin”, including non-governmental organisations, she added.

TrumpsaysU.S.willholdoffonfreshIranattack inhopeofquickdeal

(Reuters) - President Donald Trump has said the U.S. will hold off on a fresh attack on Iran as long as a deal can be reached quickly to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions and reopen the StraitofHormuz.

Trump said late on SaturdayonhisTruthSocial platform that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries hadaskedtimetocompletea deal that would lead to "the Immediate, Complete and Total" reopening of the vital strait and "an end to Iran's nuclearthreat".

He did not name the countries in the post, which followed a call with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, a U.S.ally

"Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, ​subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL," Trumpwrote.

Israel "joins me in this commitment",hesaid.

Iran's official news agency IRNA reported on Sunday that negotiations between Tehran and Oman over the Strait of Hormuz

were in their final stages, citing Iran's Foreign MinisterAbbasAraqchi.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said negotiations were focused on agreeing a new route through the strait, addingthatithad"nolinkto the Strait of Hormuz being openedorclosed. That is a separate discussion".

LastmonthIran​publicly rejected an Omani proposal, backed by Gulf states, to managethestraittheyshare.

People familiar with the matter had told Reuters the plan included the collection of voluntary fees for using thestrait.

IRANSAYSITIS BOOSTING DETERRENCE

Trump's apparent deescalation after days of threats of new attacks from eachsidewasthelatesttwist inthewartheU.S.andIsrael launched five months ago. Attacks have spread across the Gulf to the Red Sea and even a Mediterranean facilityinEgypt.

Iran has largely closed the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas before the war,

causingenergypricestorise and stoking broader inflation.

Eli Cohen, Israel's energy minister and a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet, said there was close security and intelligence coordination between Israel and the U.S. ​on everything happening in theregion.

But he added: "With or without an agreement, and regardless of any external commitments, if Iran attemptstorenewitsnuclear programme or advance its ballistic missile industries, we will be . We will take action,andwewillstrike."

Trump and Netanyahu met on Tuesday in Washington, with an Israeli official saying they had exploredallpossiblepathsto curb Iran'

programme, including d

cy, ec

n

mic pressure and force. Tehran denies seeking a nuclear weapon.

Iran's acting defence minister, Brigadier General Majid Ebn Al-Reza, said Tehran viewed recent U.S. threatsas"psychologicaland cognitive warfare" but was treating them seriously,

addingthatIranwouldboost preparedness and deterrence rather than be caught off guard or remain passive, PressTVreported.

In his call with Trump, the Saudi crown prince stressed the "necessity of prioritising dialogue to deescalate tensions" in the Middle East, according to Saudi ​Arabia's state news agency

A White House official toldReutersthatthetwohad spoken but did not provide details.

OILPRICESSURGED LASTMONTH

At a cabinet meeting on Friday, Trump said he believed U.S. negotiators,

An Iranian missile system is displayed in Azadi Square in Tehran, Iran, July 30, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS/File Photo

including his son-in-law Jared Kushner, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, could reach a deal withIran.

As an April ​ceasefire in the war unravelled last month, benchmark Brent crude futures jumped 24%, and analysts polled by Reuters expect prices to rise furtherthis​year Trump has argued that his stated goal of keeping Iran from gaining nuclear weaponsjustifieshigherfuel costsinthenearterm,butthe economic pain has put political pressure on him to findawaytoendthewar

Adding to the energy

industry's concerns, Iran's Houthi allies in Yemen in recent days began threatening the Bab elMandeb, the strait at the other end of the Red Sea fromtheSuezCanal,another exportroutefor​Saudicrude.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said on Saturday it had received reports of two maritime incidents off Oman.

In one, an unknown projectile struck a tanker, damaging the engine room. In the other, the master of a tanker reported seeing a largesplashandanexplosion closetothevessel,thoughno damagewasreported.

At least five dead, 41 missing after ferry catches fire off Indonesia

(AL-JAZEERA)-Atleastfive peoplehavebeenkilledand41are missingafteraferrycaughtfireoff Indonesia's Madura Island, the country'ssearchandrescueagency said.

Thevessel,theMutiaraSentosa 2,caughtfirebetween6amand7am local time on Sunday (23:00 and 00:00GMT),whiletravellingfrom Surabaya in East Java province to Makassar in South Sulawesi Madura Island lies off the northeasterncoastofJava.

Indonesia's National Search andRescueAgency(Basarnas)said 271peoplewereonboardwhenthe firebrokeout–232passengersand 39crewmembers.

According to Basarnas, the ferry operator, PT Atosim Lampung Pelayaran, alerted rescuersaboutanhourafterthefire broke out, after receiving a report fromthecaptainthatthevesselwas ablaze near the northern tip of MaduraIsland.

Contactwiththeferrywaslater lost.

Authoritieslaterdeterminedthe ferry's location, about 19 nautical miles (35km) north of Buruan

Plumes of smoke rise from a Mutiara Sentosa 2 ferry which caught fire off Indonesia's Madura island in East Java province, Indonesia, August 2, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer

Sapudi Island, after establishing communication with a nearby cargo vessel. The ship, however, wasunabletoapproachtheburning ferry because it was carrying flammablecargo.

Footage released by Basarnas of the incident showed thick black smoke billowing from the ferry as passengers wearing life jackets gatheredondeckawaitingrescue. Videos circulating on social

media also appeared to show frightened passengers clustered on the upper decks, with some jumping into the sea as flames spreadacrossthevessel. The ferry was later reported to

be almost engulfed in flames as a tugboatandanotherpassingvessel moved in to begin evacuating passengers.

By Sunday afternoon, several nearby vessels managed to rescue 225 passengers and crew and recovered five bodies. At least 41 peopleremainedunaccountedfor

A search-and-rescue operation was continuing, with authorities working to locate those still unaccountedfor

Basarnas said a rescue vessel was dispatched from Surabaya, although it was expected to take about six hours to reach the scene.

Arigidinflatableboatsentfrom a nearby rescue post later returned to shore because of roughseas and high waves, while the Indonesian navy deployed a warshiptoassistintheoperation.

The cause of the fire was not immediatelyknown.

Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, frequently experiences maritime accidents, in part because of lax enforcement of safety regulations andunpredictableweather

Wiebes doubles up to win Tour de France Femmes stage two and stay in yellow

Team SD Worx - Protime's Lorena Wiebes celebrates as she crosses the finish line to win stage 2. (REUTERS/Denis Balibouse)

GENEVA, (Reuters) - Dutch rider LorenaWiebesrepeatedheropening-stage successwithasprintwinonstagetwoofthe Tour de France Femmes in ​Geneva on Sundayandextendedheroveralllead.

Wiebes (Team SD Worx-Protime) was toattackfromthebunchcomingtotheend ofthe147.9-kmridefromAigle,andthe27year-oldeasilyheldoffherrivalswithtime to raise her ​arms in celebration before the line.

"Iknewthatitwasupto​metofindmy own way," said Wiebes, whose seventh ⁠TourdeFrancestagewinwasherfirstwhile wearingtheyellow​jersey

"IfoundsomegoodwheelsandIcould come out I think around ​200 metres to go andthenIjustcouldlaunchmysprint."

ItalianElisaBalsamo(Lidl-Trek)came in second ahead of 39-year-old Marianne VosoftheNetherlands.Wiebesearneda10second time bonus ​for the stage win and nowholdsa14-secondleadoverKimberley

​Le Court of Mauritius, with 2023 winner DemiVolleringafurthertwosecondsback in

The ⁠stage got its anticipated sprint finish but Riejanne Markus made a brave bid for solo success only to get reeled in withlessthan500metresleft,andlastyear's points classification winner Wiebes was always favourite to triumph at that stage.The ​peloton was about ⁠to catch an earlier breakaway with 40 km remaining when Markus stole a march on the bunch and managed ​to get one minute ahead but theDutchwoman'seffortscame​tonothing.

"Winning ⁠in yellow makes it for sure special but also because, again, our team workedreallyhardforit,"Wiebessaid.

"Thegirlswerechasingfull,fullgas⁠in the​finaltobringbackRiejanneMarkus,so it's​evenmorebeautifultofinishitoffinthe yellow."

Today,Monday'sstagethreeisa156.5kmride​fromGenevatoPolignyinFrance.

MondayAugust 03, 2026

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19

Expected calls or deliveries mayprovemoretroublethan they'reworth,Aries Youcould get involved in endless games of phone tag, and deliveries mightcomewhenyou'reout

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

A temporary delay in receiving some expected funds might force you to postpone a much-needed purchase,Taurus.Don'tmake yourselfcrazyoverthis.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Some older people, perhaps your parents, might be too vocal in their assessment of how you're handling a situation,Gemini.

CANCER(June21–July22)

Beware that creative efforts i n v o l v i n g m o d e r n technology, such as computer graphics, recording, or film, might suffer from "too many cooks"

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

In spite of the leaps and boundsyou'vetakenoverthe last several months, Leo, a slumpcouldsetinasyoustart todoubtyourabilitytoattain yourgoals.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

Areyouwaitingtohearsome important news, Virgo?

Significant career matters may be involved.This isn't a good day to sit around waiting Your call will probably come late, when youleastexpectit.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Thisisn'tagooddaytotravel, Libra,especiallybyair Long lines at the ticket counter, endless delays, and lost luggagecouldbetheresult.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21)

A friend or colleague involvedinanenterprisewith you could be inhibited in some way by lack of money, Scorpio.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

Career responsibilities may require a temporary separation from a love partner today, Sagittarius. Thisisapttobeupsettingand rather disheartening, but there'slikelynothingyoucan do about it except work as quicklyasyoucan.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Travel arrangements may havetobeputoffbecauseof unexpected developments that keep you where you are, Capricorn

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

You may feel especially lonely, overworked, and passionate today, Aquarius, and therefore longing for the company of your romantic partner

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

Upsets in the home could occur today, Pisces.You and other members of your household are on edge and liable to snap at the least provocation. Someone could getallflusteredoveraminor

Greaves carries fight in gritty West Indies display

Cricinfo - Pakistan's bowlers lookedliketheycontrolledplayfor muchofaspin-dominantdayatthe Queen'sParkOval,butWestIndies' gritmeanstheygoinwiththeupper hand. Handy contributions right through the line-up - no batter and no partnership ended without reaching double-figures - let the hosts keep Pakistan's spinners at bay When light called time on a rain-affectedday,WestIndieswere at their most dominant, with an unbeaten half-century from Justin Greaves as part of an undefeated 66-run stand pushing them to 239 withfivewicketsstillinhand.

The shock omission of Mohammad Abbas was the main talkingpointoftheTestearlyon,its effect amplified by the brisk start West Indies made. They raced alongto49in9.5oversbeforerain forced an early lunch. Mercifully f

k

d Mohammad Ali to fine leg off the last ball before the weather interruption to give Pakistan something to cling to ahead of the resumption.

Once the players took the field again,itwasimmediatelyclearthis would be a different kind of session.Soon,AliUsmanandSajid Khan were operating in tandem on apitchthatgrippedandturned,and it wasn't long before it claimed its first victim. A canny review from Pakistanforaballthatlandedonleg and ragged past Brandon King's outside edge showed three reds,

givingUsmanhisfirstTestwicket.

With a left-hander and a righthander at the crease, Usman and Sajid operated relentlessly and stifled West Indies. Kavem Hodge went deep into his shell, and occasionallyattemptedtobreakthe shackles with a release sweep. However, one of them off Sajid kissedhisgloveandricochetedoff his forearm towards Mohammad Rizwan,whotookasharpcatch.It needed another review from Pakistan, but they broke through

oncemore.

Shai Hope and Amir Jangoo begantorealisetheywouldhaveto balancerun-scoringandcaution.A glorious six over cover from Hope set the tone as West Indies tried to shift momentum, and the next few overssawboundariesbegintoflow relativelyregularly ItforcedBabar Azam to turn back to pace, returning to the expensive Ubaid Shah.

It was here that West Indies, who had been generally good at

FIFAchiefInfantino'spositionlooks unacceptable,headofEuropeanleaguessays

ZURICH, (Reuters)Gianni Infantino's position as FIFA president looks untenable followinghisfailedplantosella stake in the World Cup's commercial rights, the head of Europe's professional football said on Sunday Claudius Schaefer, whose organisation represents53professionalmen's and women's football leagues, said there could be "only one consequence" for Infantino after ​his plan triggered a storm of protest from regional associations."When ​I saw how this whole thing unfolded and that ⁠FIFA's key bodies weren't involved,thenthere'sessentially only ​one consequence in any company or association," Schaefer told Swiss newspaper ​SonntagsZeitung.Asked if this meant that Infantino was now unacceptable as FIFA president, Schaefer said: "This is usually the consequence when someone in a company pushes ​such a business deal forward without anyone knowing about it."Infantino ​said on Friday that

FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the press conference. (REUTERS /Henry Romero)

FIFAhadscrappedtheplanaftera widespread backlash Regional

⁠UEFA and CONCACAF said on Saturdaytheyhadlostconfidence in his leadership.Schaefer, also chief executive of the Swiss FootballLeague,saidtheproposal suggested that FIFA's main goal was to ​maximise profits for ​third parties⁠byhavingmoreandbigger competitionsinfuture.

"It's solely about the financial advantages; everything else is

​completelyignored,"hesaid.

The European Leagues opposedthis​becauseit⁠wouldadd more matches to an already packed international calendar to the detriment of national championships,Schaefersaid.

"Nobody knew about the ⁠plans,​noteventheFIFACouncil, thegoverning​bodyofFIFA.

I was very surprised that the president was acting completely ​aloneinthismatter."Pic-

was both ineffective and uneconomical, conceding 17 in three overs. Greaves was excellent at putting overpitched deliveries awaythroughthecovers,takingthe dominant role in a partnership that pusheduppast50justaftertea.

But Pakistan were gifted a possibleopeningtorunthroughthe lower order at the top of the final sessionwhenHopedraggedAlion to his off stump. It brought Roston Chase to the crease, with one wicketseparatingPakistanfromthe lowerorder But,aswiththosethat came before, the West Indies captaindugin,whileGreaveskept the score ticking over Pakistan's spinners continued to plug away buttheconditionshadeasedandthe threatreceded.

absorbing pressure and fighting through phases where Pakistan's bowlers ruled the roost briefly let themselves down. Ubaid sent his first one down leg, and Jangoo casuallyflickedatit,hisinsideedge kissing the ball on its way through tothekeeper,handingthedebutant hisfirstwicket.

It did not put West Indies off their newfound positivity, though. Ubaid was dispatched for a few boundariesandtakenoffafterthree overs, and a return spell from Ali

Pakistan turned to pace once more, but Ubaid's difficult inductiontoTestcricketcontinued. He overpitched to Greaves first ball, and, in a recurring them, the West Indies allrounder dispatched him through the covers. His pace had dropped, and his spell lasted just two overs that cost Pakistan another 15. Babar retreated to the comfortofspin,butbynow,itwas West Indies who were getting comfortable. By the time the light faded,itlookedasifPakistancould do with a reset more than a West Indiessidewhohadsurvivedahard day of Test cricket, and started to cashinontheirhardwork.

Scores: West Indies 239 for 5 (Greaves 64*, King 46, Ali 2-49) vs Pakistan.

Arsenalhave agreedpersonal termsinprinciple withRealMadrid starViniciusJunior

Arsenal have agreed personal terms in principle with Real Madrid star

SportsViewviaYahooSports-Arsenalhavereportedlyagreedpersonal termsinprinciplewithRealMadridattackerViniciusJunior

Hisagency,RocNation,willenterintotalkswithMadridfollowingthe 'monstrousoffer'fromtheGunners.

He has just a year left on his contract with Madrid, and the two parties havenotreachedanagreementonanextension.

Vinicius'qualityandexperiencewouldboostArsenal'sattackingoptions. Bringing him to the Emirates Stadium would also be hugely financially beneficialtotheclub.Theywouldmakeplentyofmoneyfromthesalesofhis jerseys,andmorefanswillbeeagertopaytowatchhimplayfortheteamat home or away.He could join Arsenal on tour, and they would fancy their chancesofhittingthegroundrunningnextseasonwithhimintheirranks.

ThereigningPremierLeaguechampionsarewillingtogiveViniciusthe biggestcontractinthehistoryoftheclub.

The 26-year-old currently earns £400,000 per week at Madrid, and he could become the highest-paid player in the English top-flight if he joins Arsenalthissummer

Cape Verde's Sidny Lopes Cabral Wins 2026 World Cup Goal of the Tournament

ComplexviaYahooSports-CapeVerdenational teamstarSidnyLopesCabralhasbeenawardedthe honor of scoring the best goal in the 2026 FIFA WorldCup.

As announced by FIFA, Sidny Lopes Cabral's acclaimed goal during extra time againstArgentina intheroundof32gameatMiamiGardenswasvoted the best goal of this year's competition, competing against 307 other goals scored during the tournament.ThegoalhelpedbringCapeVerdeto2-2 duringextratime,buttheteamwouldeventuallylose 3-2 to Argentina, who made it to the final against Spain.

(July shortlist on teammates mother girlfriend saidafterthegame,perESPN."WhenIgotthere,I saw right

YoungGuyanesescore...

Frompage25

games all to strong Colombian opponents: Juan Esteban Cabiativa (2148), Xavi Hernandez Jimenez (2112),andCMSamuelToro Ramirez(2063).

Battling through an elite field, Couchman's tactical

resilience saw him outperform his initial 41st seed to finish 34th out of 86 contenders. His tournament highlight came in Round 4, where he secured a brilliant draw against Mexico's CM Miguel Angel Lopez Garcia (2217).

WCM Aditi Joshi and Guyana's National Women's Champion recorded 4 5 points after 2 wins and 5 draws in the U-16 Female Category National U-14

Open Champion Abel FernandezCiriafinishedwith 4pointsinhisU-14Absolute Category with 3 wins and 2 draws, while National U-12 Open Champion Aiden Tinnie ended on 4 points in theU-12AbsoluteCategory Alek Ubaldo-Singh, competing in the U-14 Absolute Category, scored 3 5 points, while Rebha Lachhman finished with 3 points in the Girls U-14 category Alexander Zhang finished with 3 points in his U-16AbsoluteCategory,and EmmaJohnrecorded3points intheU-16FemaleCategory In the U-12 Absolute Category, Vir Narine and Jeremiah Jacobs finished with 3 points each, while Sanjay Suman and Arian Tinnie, competing in the same category, scored 2 points and 1 5 points, respectively In the Girls U12 category, National U12 Girls Champion Divya

Persaud finished wit points, whileAmaya Sharma finishedwith2points. In the U-10 Absolute category, Mark Defreitas scored3points,whileJordan Jacobs finished with 1 point. Parnav Suman, the youngest member of the contingent, put up a valiant effort in the U-8 Absolute category, with a score of 2.5 points.

The players returned Sunday after a week of intense competition, with invaluable international experienceandinsomecases, significantgainsintheirELO ratings.

The Guyana Chess Federation(GCF)isproudof its young players and confidentthatthisexperience will foster both their growth as chess players and their personaldevelopment.

We extend special thanks to National player Keron Sandiford, who served as Coach and Head of Delegation,aswellasparents Gwen Tinnie and Patrick John for their unwavering guidance, supervision, and support throughout the tournament.

Additional thanks go to alltheaccompanyingparents who provided crucial help and supervision during the event.

Finally, the GCF sincerely thanks the officials whoworkedtirelesslybehind the scenes to make this trip possible. Coordinating our largest-ever delegation a team of nearly 40 individuals to an international event required extraordinarydedication,and weareimmenselygratefulfor theirassistanceandsupport.

Rested Sabalenka has high hopes leading into US Open

TORONTO, (Reuters) - World number one Aryna Sabalenka said on Sunday she was feeling hopeful going intothelead-uptotheU.S.Openaftera string of disappointing Grand Slam resultsearlier​thisyear

The 28-year-old Belarusian failed to reach the quarter-finals at Wimbledon last month and was defeated in the quarters at the French OpeninJune.InJanuary,shelostinthe finalattheAustralianOpen.

“Ihavehugehopes,”Sabalenkatold reporters inToronto of returning to the hardcourtforthe​CanadianOpenwhere she will play her opening match on Tuesday.“I wouldn't say that ​clay and grass... was that bad. I was trying a couplethings,things⁠didn'tgothewayI expected.

“Andnowwe'rekindofbacktothe basics, and I ​really hope it's going to

against Naomi Osaka (JPN) (not pictured) on day seven of The Championships Wimbledon 2026 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. (Geoff Burke-Imagn Images/File Photo)

workoutwellonthehardcourtagain.”'

That meant bringing back the ​baselinegameandmakingsureshewas confidentthere,shesaid.

Sabalenkasaidtherun-intotheU.S. Open could be tricky for players, especiallythosewhohadprogressedfar atprevioustournaments.

“Ifyougofarinthegrass​court,you feel really fatigued and you're not able to pull out any good tennis,” she ​said, before adding with a laugh: “But this yearIdidn'tdowell,soI'mhere.”

She said she was good ⁠spirits after somemuch-needrest,andhadsuffered physically and mentally during the summerswingbutwaseagertogetback oncourt.

She will play mixed doubles with Novak Djokovic at the U.S. Open, in the week before the singles matches beginonAugust30.

“I'mprettyexcited.Ithinkit's​going to fun,” Sabalenka said. “Playing ​with Novak is ⁠always fun... We're chasing (the) title, that's our goal, I believe, so it'sgoingtofunandintense.”

Asked about the WTA's updated eligibility policy which will require ​players to clear a one-time gene test to compete on the women's tour, Sabalenkasaid⁠shesupportedit.

“Ithinkit'sreallyimportanttokeep the fairness in our tour,” she said. “It's obviously, biologically, the men are waystrongerthanwomen,soIfeellike itwouldbenotreally⁠fairfor​thewoman tocompeteagainst(a)biologicalman.”

InDecember,Sabalenka​lost6-363 to Nick Kyrgios in a controversial "Battle of the Sexes" exhibition match in Dubai which critics described as a ​publicity stunt that risked trivialising thewomen'sgame.

International jockey Colin Ross showed his class yet again.

Hot & Lucky denies Jagdeo Racing Stables in Emancipation Cup

Veteran jockey

Colin Ross was on the saddle of Hot & Lucky as he piloted the underdog horse from Nathan Racing Stables to a maidenvictoryinGuyana.

In the absence of Js Racing Stables, Slingerz Racing Stables, Master Z and Jumbo Jet Racing Stables; Jagdeo Racing Stables was set to dominate the Emancipation Cup at Kennard's Memorial Turf Club,butitwasJockeyRoss and trainer Deonarine Ramroop who pulled off a majorupset.

Ross came with a 'Statlooking'ploy,andhetookthe early start with Hot and Lucky,settingthepaceinthe one-milerace.Hot&Lucky stopped the clock in one minute and 40 seconds; favorite horse Front Line Warrior got into fifth gear a bit late as Gryphon ran second. Front Line Warrior had to settle for third while Stormy Victory finished fourth.

This is Hot & Lucky's secondraceinGuyana,after a third place in May. Hot & Luckyisownedbyaspecial need teenager who was at center stage of an emotional winonSundayafternoon.

Underglorioussunshine, the opening race got off to a flyer with the L Class race. Lion Heart stormed to victory finishing ahead of Doctor J, who ran second, whilePerfectTripandSakar were the other top four finishersinthatorder

In the nursery stakes, two-year-old Guyana bred maidens,JanoStaroutshined the opponents with jockey YovinKissoonchandleading the charge Chelsea ran closely for second while Princess Alesha finished third and Just in Time ran fourth.

The third race was the Emancipation Sophomore stakes two-year-old Guyana bred maidens. Boss Lady enjoyed a sweet victory, by tenlengthswhileOceanStar ran in second spot. High

Beam claimed third and LadyCashfinishedfourth. IntheEmancipationmile s

Guyanabredmaidensandof one race, Miracle Boy ran withbraverytofinishinpole position while Glory Queen raninsecond.

Risen Star and Black Beauty finished in third and fourth respectively Jockey Arvin Dhanraj and Yovin K

unseatedfromtheirhorses.

Jagdeo Racing Stables took the top spots in race five. Theory of Colors took the lead from the inside to emerged as the victor in the H Class and Lower while stablemate Sydney ran comfortable for second. She WBO onTime ran third and Mufasafinishedinfourth.

New-comer Turmalina

Negra out of Brazil had w

Emancipation Classic

Stakes W Class Non winner OpentoF&GClasshorses. The day got even better for JagdeoRacingStablesasOy Ve

dominancetoclinchvictory

Converter ran second while Qurbaan'sKingdomcamein third.

A host of the big horses

were in rest mode ahead of the Guyana Cup which is slated for August 23 at RisingSunTurfClub.

More than G$66 million incashandprizeswillupfor thetakingatthe18thrunning oftheGuyanaCup.

The top stables are expected to feature new horsesforthemostlucrative event in the history of Guyana'shorseracing.

Thierry Henry, Gilbert Griffith, Gavin Kisten and Jayhayden Rohlehr outstanding

By Samuel Whyte

Tucber Park Cricket Club trashed favourites Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), whipping them by 54 runs in their semifinal encounteroftheBerbiceCricketBoard (BCB) Smalta Under-19 inter club cricketcompetition.

In the game played at the Area H Ground,RoseHallTown,TucberPark Cricket Club batted first and reached 154 all out. Captain and wicketkeeper batsman,nationalU19reserveThierry Henry led from in front with a well composed 55 and was well supported by National U19 all-rounder Gilbert Griffithwith40.

InreplyRHTY&SCcouldnotcope with the penetrative spin and pace combinationoftheTPCCbowlersand werebundledoutfor91.

Leading the bowling for TPCC were BerbiceYouth off spinner Gavin Kisten and National U19 reserve fast bowler Jayhayden Rohlehr Kisten was virtually unplayable and had immaculate figures of 4 wickets for 7 runs off 7 overs. Rohlehr, who troubledthebatsmenwithhispaceand control,grabbed3-22.

Tucber Park awaits their opponent in the final at a date and venue to be announced.

Tucber Park outstanding bowlers Gavin Kisten with 4 wickets for 7 and Jayhayden Rohlehr with 3-22.

Wintz,Amsterdamadvancewithdominant victoriesatCACGamesboxingtournament

Guyana's Terron

Wi n t z a n d

D e s m o n d Amsterdam both produced commanding performances on Sunday to advance in their respective weight divisions at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games boxing competition.

Competing in the Elite Men's 70kg division in the

Dominican Republic,Wintz delivered a flawless display to defeat Saint Lucia's Kyghan Mortley by a unanimous 5-0 decision, despitehavingaslowstart.

All five judges awarded the contest to the Guyanese boxer, each scoring it 30-26 in Wintz's favour following an impressive three-round performance.

Meanwhile, Amsterdam

Guyana's Terron Wintz was impressive yesterday at the CAC Games boxing tournament.

required even less time to book his place in the next round of the Elite Men's 80kgcompetition.

The Guyanese stopped Dominica's Daniel Ali Shillingford by Referee Stopped Contest (RSC) in thesecondroundatthe1:10 mark after taking complete controlofthebout.

All five judges had

Amsterdam ahead 10-9 before the contest was halted, underlining his dominance inside the ring.

The victories continue Guyana's campaign at the CAC Games boxing tournament,withbothWintz a n d A m s t e r d a m progressingtothenextstage oftheirrespectivedivisions.

Finucane creates Games history with fourth gold

BBC Sport -Welsh star

EmmaFinucanehascreated historybybecomingthefirst sprint cyclist to win four track gold medals at the same Commonwealth Games.

Finucane added keirin successtothegoldsshehad alreadywonintheteamand individual sprints and 1,000mtimetrial.

Olympic champion Ellesse Andrews finished second when defending her Commonwealthkeirintitle.

In Birmingham in 2022, New Zealand cyclist Aaron Gate won four gold medals with three on the track and oneintheroadrace.

Finucane has achieved her quartet of successes in

four successive days in the Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow

Australian legend Anna Meares and New Zealander

Emma Finucane won two bronze at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022. (Getty Images)

Andrews had previously wonthreetracktitlesin2010 and2022respectively

The23-year-oldhasalso become the first Welsh

RaekwonNoelsignsoff CACGameswiththree goldsforGuyana

Raekwon Noel recorded his 3rd gold medal and another record.

womantocollectfourgolds at a single Commonwealth Games Finucane is also Wales' most successful female athlete in Games history after overtaking Para-sprinter Olivia Breen, who heldtherecordfortwo days.Weightlifter David Morgan remains Wales' m o s t s u c c e s s f u l Commonwealth Games athlete with nine golds and threesilver

Finucane won Wales' 31st medal of the Games withninegold,10silverand 12bronze.

TheCarmarthenstarhas also been chosen to be the Team Wales flag bearer for the closing ceremony tonight.

Guyana'sswimmingsensationRaekwonNoelhasdoneit again, capturing his third gold medal at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games after another thrilling and fiercelycontestedperformance.

In a strategic move, Noel opted to withdraw from the 100m Backstroke, following his earlier gold medal performances, to recover and conserve his energy for the Men's 200m Freestyle. The decision proved to be a masterstrokeashereturnedtothepoolrefreshed,focused,and readytodeliverwhenitmatteredmost.

Facingaworld-classfieldofcompetitors,Noeldisplayed remarkablecomposure,tacticalbrilliance,andchampionship grit to power his way to yet another gold medal, further cementinghisplaceamongtheCaribbean'seliteswimmers. His performances throughout these Games have been nothing short of extraordinary—rewriting records, standing atopthepodiumthreetimes,andproudlyraisingtheGolden Arrowheadbeforetheregion.

The Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) in congratulating Noel stated, “Raekwon, your discipline, humility, resilience, determination, and relentless pursuit of excellence have made you an inspiration to an entire nation. Youhaveshownwhatispossiblethroughhardwork,sacrifice, andbelief.Congratulations,Champion!”

Young Guyanese score mixed results at Pan American Chess Competition

TeamGuyana,made up of seventeen young chess players, has officially concludeditscampaignatthe Pan American Youth Chess Festival, held in Medellín, Colombia, from July 26 to August 2, 2026 Hosted jointly by the Colombian Chess Federation and the Chess Confederation for the

Americas (CCA), the prestigious event gathered

nearly 1,000 players representing 30 nations from

across LatinAmerica and the Caribbean.

Competitors faced off across theAbsolute and Girls divisions,spanningcategories from U-8 to U-18. Guyana's standoutresultcameintheU18 Absolute category, where National Junior Chess Champion Kyle Couchman scored 5 points in the nineround competition Rated 1962 ELO, Couchman notched four wins and two draws, dropping only three (Continuedonpage22)

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Raekwon Noel signs off CAC Games with three golds for Guyana